crucify

verb

cru·​ci·​fy ˈkrü-sə-ˌfī 

crucified; crucifying

transitive verb

1

: to put to death by nailing or binding the wrists or hands and feet to a cross

2

: to destroy the power of : mortify

crucify the flesh

3

a

: to treat cruelly : torment

b

: pillory sense 2

crucified in the press

crucifier

ˈkrü-sə-ˌfī-ər 

noun

Examples of crucify in a Sentence

They crucified her in the newspapers for having an affair.

Recent Examples on the Web

Branagh was nearly crucified by critics and audiences back in the day, but his film has grown in estimation over the years. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2025

Yet, others are crucified for not posting quickly enough—like when 90210 fans attacked Jenny Garth for her silence after Luke Perry’s death, or when the internet turned on the Friends cast for waiting days to acknowledge Matthew Perry’s passing. —Alessandra Schade, Time, 5 Aug. 2025

Good Friday is celebrated on the Friday before Easter and marks the day Jesus was crucified and died. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

Season 4 ends before the Holy Week, with Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem, where he will later be crucified in season 6. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 14 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English crucifien, from Anglo-French crucifier, from Late Latin crucifigere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for crucify

• abscissae
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi
• certify

Kids Definition

crucify

verb

cru·​ci·​fy ˈkrü-sə-ˌfī 

crucified; crucifying

1

: to put to death by nailing or binding the hands and feet to a cross

2

: to treat cruelly : torture, persecute

were crucified in the newspapers

crucifier

-fī-ər 

noun

Etymology

Middle English crucifien "to crucify," from early French crucifier (same meaning), from Latin crucifigere "to crucify," from cruc-, crux "cross" and figere "to fasten, fix" — related to cross, crucifix, excruciating, fix